Work has begun to include the Ancient City of Priene on the UNESCO permanent heritage list.
The city was first listed on the UNESCO World Heritage temporary list in 2018, but joint efforts by Söke Municipality and the Ministry of Culture and Tourism to gain permanent listing has now been launched.
Works will be carried out by joint boards, to be formed under the leadership of the municipality, and be completed within the framework of a specific program. A road map to be initiated for the Ancient City of Priene was shared with stakeholders at a recent meeting.
Söke District Governor Ali Akça, Söke Mayor Dr. Mustafa İberya Arıkan, Head of Priene Ancient City Excavations Prof. Dr. Hakan Mert, Şehnaz Eraslan from the General Directorate of Cultural Heritage of the Ministry of Culture, Ministry representatives, Söke Municipal Council Members, Güllübahçe Neighborhood Headman Yusuf Çam, representatives of non-governmental organizations and Söke Municipality bureaucrats attended the meeting.
Dr. Hakan Mert said: “It is a very meaningful coincidence that the beginning in question coincides with the days when we celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Republic.”
Gathering at the meeting to discuss the inclusion of Ancient Priene City on the UNESCO permanent heritage list.
Söke Mayor Dr Arıkan added: “I would like to thank our Ministry for leading the work to ensure that Priene gets the value it deserves. The Ancient City of Priene, which was included in the UNESCO World Heritage Temporary List in 2018 under the leadership of our Municipality, the Chamber of Commerce and the Priene Excavation Directorate, is still a model for today’s cities with its city planning system.
“Our duty is to protect the world’s common heritage and to carry out our work together with our stakeholders.”
He said Priene, one of the most important cities in terms of socio-economic and administrative structure of the union of twelve Ionian cities, had become a cultural center in its geography with both trade networks and scientific and philosophical thought development environments.
“I believe that by signing the Cooperation Protocol with our Ministry in 2022, we started this process and will achieve successful work. This work will improve the quality of life in social and economic terms in our Söke and Güllübahçe neighborhood.”
Governor Ali Akça thanked all stakeholders who participated in the meeting, adding: “Since this study is such a valuable study, it cannot be delegated to just one institution. In other words, it is a path that all actors of Söke will embrace and walk. We have a long way to go.”
Following the opening speeches, Ministry representative Şehnaz Eraslan made a comprehensive presentation about the work to be done in the coming period.
In the presentation, information was given about why the studies were carried out, the importance of the contract and the list, how the candidacy file was prepared, the establishment of the field management, and the formation of the management and relevant boards.
Stating that the municipality has important duties, Eraslan said: “The Ministry will carry out inspections in this process. When the file for the final candidacy application is prepared, the Ministry will decide which file will go to UNESCO. These are long processes.
“When it goes to UNESCO, it will be a process that will take 4-5 years in total, with an 18-month waiting period,” he said. Eraslan stated that only Aphrodisias is on the permanent list in Aydın province.
After the presentation, the stakeholders expressed their opinions and exchanged ideas about the work to be done.